Blaines head pounded as he tried desperately to hold his focus, peripheral vision narrowed to block out the chaos as he charged through the hordes. Fae from the Green City were arriving soon or at least Blaine hoped they would be. All semblances of their carefully laid plans had deteriorated but the mountain settlements still remained strong. He had received no word of any successful break ins to the sanctuary, as far as he knew all civilians were safe and secure, still inside. The moment the evacuation had started hed compiled a team to check as many homes as possible to make sure they were all empty.

A cloud of glimmering green appeared on the horizon and Blaine kicked off the ground hard, soaring into the air to try and signal them. Hed reached about 20 feet when he felt a heavy chain wrap itself painfully around his ankle and unbalance him. With a hard tug it pulled him back toward the ground, the burn of the iron making him lose momentum. He fell, dust rising around him, covering him as he made impact, thickening the splatters of blood adorning his skin and clothes. The energy drained out of him and he found himself incapable of panic or crying for help. His eyelids were heavy, his head filled with the return of the piercing ringing in his ears. Just before all went dark he felt something crawl through him like thick smoke curling through his veins and clogging them with ash.

.oO0Oo.

He had no idea whether the ground he woke up on was the same patch he had fallen to. There was something heavy and hot tight around his neck but he could neither see nor think what it could be. His vision was blurred and grey like trying to see through dense fog. He could sense a sharp, intense pain nagging at the edge of his mind but he pushed it away, he didnt really feel it, there was only the ghost of the throbbing in his shoulder blades and soft whispered words. He rose to his knees without registering the movement and looked down at his hands. They were wet and red with blood, his own or someone elses he didnt know. They began to shake.

For a split second everything was sharp and stark until the voice in his head grew loud and angry. After that everything was just numb. He found himself standing upright and moving forward, feet dragging across the uneven ground. Where he was going he didnt know. He didnt know much of anything, nothing but the quiet almost gentle words filling his head.

Blaine felt as if he were floating despite his vision telling him he was stumbling, sometimes even crawling. He floated all the way to a stone door that was somewhat familiar and watched as it slid open without him so much as lifting a finger.

.oO0Oo.

They all heard it before they saw it, the rumble of moving stone as the entrance to the sanctuary that only a person of dragon birth could open, slowly revealed a group of warlocks cast in shadow by a city on fire. Screams resonated and resounded off of the stone walls.

Everyone who could ran to the opposite end of the hall, the faes desperately trying to bring down the walls to escape. Kurt simply stood frozen where he had been hovering over the iron chain. "Alright, alright!" A warlock at the centre of the group bellowed. Comprehension dawned on Kurt as the man stepped forward and his companions shrunk back behind him. It was Rudianos, their king. "Were not going to kill you. Well yet." He added.

Rudianos pulled hard on the chain gripped in his hand. Kurt watched in horror as Blaine stumbled out from behind the group. His shoulder fell at a funny angle and the sheer weight of the chain and collar overbalanced him. Kurt tried to run to him as Blaine fell hard to the ground, knees and palms slamming against the unforgiving stone. Danu and Aiden held him back as he kicked and screamed. "Now, now Kurt relax," Rudianos drawled "hes not in any pain, look at him." Kurt did so and he seemed to be right. Blaine showed no sign of pain despite being shackled in iron, covered in blood and purpling bruises. He merely sat back on his haunches, shaking hard but sitting quite still as he gazed around the sanctuary as if hed never seen it before.

"What have you done to him?!" Kurt crumpled, devastated as Blaine just continued to gaze listlessly around, paying no heed to Kurts distress. "We just put him on a little leash." The hall echoed with hundreds of angered growls as they listened to Rudianos mock an unknowing Blaine. "Dont worry his mind and body are blissfully numb, senses dimmed so that its easier for him to do as hes told." He stalk toward Blaine was seated and stroked his hair, eyes never straying from Kurt. "And he did struggle, such a shame it took him so long to obey."

Rudianos tugged the chain again, pulling it sharply against Blaines throat causing him to choke. A pained whine clawed its way from his mouth as his fingers scrabbled at the collar squeezing his neck. Kurt tried desperately to free himself but to no avail. Screams filled the hall as Blaine writhed, desperately trying to breathe. Rudianos was very clearly getting tired of playing games.

"Surrender or he dies!" His voice rose above the noise. Kurt tore himself from Danu and Aidens restraint, scrambling to Blaines side and working a finger beneath the collar so he could suck in a breath. "Blaine! Blaine! Look at me please!" Kurt begged but when Blaine obeyed his eyes were hazy as he heaved for breath, there was no hint of recognition as Kurt cradled his face, thumbs brushing reverently across his cheeks. Blaine stared at him. "Blaine baby please!" He sobbed but Blaine just continued to look at him confused. He patted his hand with a vague smile before looking around himself as if everything was fine and hadnt just been strangled.

The warlocks simply stood back and watched and Kurt had no doubt that no matter their reply to Rudianos ultimatum theyd kill Blaine anyway. "Blaine! Please!" He begged again but Blaine refused to look at him as if hed been told to ignore him. Kurt clutched Blaine to him, heart tearing itself to pieces as Blaine remained stiff and motionless in his arms. Desperately he willed Blaine to snap out of it although he knew the compulsion couldnt be broken unless the individual who instigated it was killed or chose to release them from their control. Feeling helpless he began to sin. He didnt know the words but he knew the melody well enough despite only having heard it briefly several hours earlier as Blaine stared fixated at the ruins of an old well.

He was surprised when suddenly it wasnt just his voice he could hear softly singing.; first Aiden and then every dragon old enough to remember the ancient song, their voices filling the sanctuary bright and hopeful.

"And when the sun sets dimmed in eve, and purple fills the air,

I think the sacred hazel-tree is dropping berries there,

From starry fruitage, waved aloft where Connlas Well oerflows;

For sure, the immortal waters run through every wind that blows."

During the song Blaine had closed his eyes again, clenching them tight shut as if her were fighting his own mind. When he opened them again they were clear. There was a murmur of dissent as Blaine finally returned his embrace. "Kurt..." He said in amazement.

"I should have known." Rudianos growled "You can never truly tame a beast." With a flick of his wrist Blaine collapsed in Kurts hold, a roar of pain ripping from him as the long, heavy chain wrapped itself around his wrists and ankles. He tried desperately to free himself but the more he struggled the tighter the chains became. Kurt and dozens of fae tried to pull the links from him but their efforts were futile.

The warlocks retreated and Rudianos let go of the end of the chain. "Well kill them all, but not until theyve watched him die the same way they will." The entrance to the sanctuary stayed open, exposing them all to the destruction beyond the chamber, the sounds of which barely audible as Blaine screamed in agony. He thrashed and cried as the iron stayed lock onto his body, he couldnt see but was faintly aware of the smell of his own flesh branded by the cursed iron.

As suddenly as he had began Blaines body stilled. The sound of his last scream echoed about them as Kurt closed his eyes, one hand gripping the chain the other pressed firmly against the floor.